Phlebotomy Technician, PRN

Mercyhealth Wisconsin and Illinois•Freeport, IL

3d•$18 - $26

About The Position

The Phlebotomy Technician collects, labels, processes, and transports blood and other patient specimens while ensuring accurate patient identification, specimen integrity, and compliance with safety protocols. The role also supports patient registration, laboratory order entry, specimen handling, and daily laboratory operations, while providing professional patient care. This is a PRN position with variable, as-needed shifts. The technician uses hospital and laboratory information systems to register patients, enter orders, manage specimens, produce labels and reports, and enter results. Duties include collecting a range of specimens, including blood, swabs, urine, cultures, and specialized collections; assessing patients and providing collection instructions; accessioning and preparing samples; and coordinating specimen delivery or reference-laboratory transport. Depending on location and assignment, the role may also include waived testing, electrocardiograms, and arterial punctures. The position includes maintaining supplies and equipment, supporting quality control and proficiency testing, assisting with training and mentoring coworkers, and collaborating with the supervisor to support staffing and service quality. The technician is expected to work independently with minimal supervision and to identify and help resolve operational issues.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent preferred.
Successful completion of a phlebotomy course or previous phlebotomy experience preferred.
Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision.

Nice To Haves

Phlebotomy certification preferred.
Experience as a Paramedic, EMT, CNA, or MA is helpful.

Responsibilities

Use hospital and laboratory information systems to release orders, register patients, enter orders, manage specimens, and enter results.
Register patients; collect payments; enter demographic and insurance information; and support sample processing.
Transfer test requests from scripts, requisitions, and verbal orders into hospital and laboratory computer systems.
Answer and screen telephone calls professionally; resolve unclear orders by contacting appropriate clinical or laboratory personnel, documenting actions, and referring unresolved issues to a supervisor.
Generate labels and lists, run daily reports, review order monitors, and investigate collection summary reports.
Assess special collection requirements, patient preparation, and the appropriate order of draw.
Verify patient identity using two identifiers and perform phlebotomy across the patient population.
Follow safety and infection-control protocols; assess patient responses to procedures and adjust collection processes or seek assistance as needed.
Collect, accurately label, and preserve blood and other specimens, including throat and MRSA swabs, urine, heel sticks, finger sticks, blood cultures, and blood-bank specimens.
Perform arterial punctures for adult specimen collection where applicable at RMH Phlebotomy locations.
Collect glucose tolerance and hormone stimulation specimens at specified intervals and prepare patients appropriately.
Collect research program, Lab One, and special collection kit specimens; instruct patients on self-collected specimen collection and handling.
Perform breath alcohol testing and random, pre-employment, and legal urine drug screens.
Receive, accession, examine, centrifuge, aliquot, sort, batch, package, and track specimens; deliver samples to laboratory sections or arrange courier or reference-laboratory transport.
Notify testing personnel of stat requests and resolve specimen identification or requisition issues.
Apply working knowledge of insurance processes and registration-related billing rules, including collection dates.
Drive a laboratory personal vehicle to client sites, patient homes, or facilities; collect and transport specimens and assure laboratory receipt.
Perform limited waived testing, including blood glucose monitoring, and, when assigned, rapid flu and strep tests, mono testing, pregnancy testing, and dipstick urinalysis; perform quality control and proficiency testing and report critical results to authorized caregivers.
Perform ten-lead and pediatric EKG tracings where required by location; communicate critical results at legacy Rockford locations only.
Perform temperature checks and clean and check laboratory glassware.
Maintain, order, receive, and stock supplies; fulfill supply requests from clients and providers.
Assist with orientation and training of new partners, coach on customer service, verify competence before release from training, and provide performance-evaluation input to the phlebotomy supervisor.
Mentor phlebotomy staff as needed and collaborate with the supervisor to support adequate staffing and skill mix.
Evaluate new products and document evaluation activities as required by regulatory agencies.
Serve as a phlebotomy resource by demonstrating strong collection skills across patient types; identify improvement opportunities, make suggestions, and help resolve issues.